Flare machine



Dec. 10, 1940; J wlTTE ETAL 2,224,452-

FLARE MACHINE Filed Feb. 8, 1958 INVENTORS. Loufs J: Witte.

Fig BY Benjamin H Southland.

W'XMTTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 10, 1940 A UNITED STATES FLARE MACHINE 7 New York Application February s, 1938, Serial No. 189,366

1 Claim. (01. 67 32) 'Ihis-inventionrelates to special effects equipment, such as is used in motion picture studios to create artificial effects.

The primary object of the invention to be described hereinafter is to provide a machine capable of igniting aluminum dust or other suitable materials to produce a sudden flare or flares simulating lightning. The type of machine-embodied in this invention consists of means for blowing combustible material through a flame. In order to make a device of this nature useful, it must first of all be safeguarded against accidental or premature explosions. Secondly, it must be compact and portable and must be easily operated. Accordingly, other objects of this invention are to provide a compact, portable, pneumatically operated machine capable of producing sudden flares and one in which careful attention has been given to the design and arrangement of parts to provide a maximum factor of safety.

The invention also embodies an improved means for igniting the combustible material. In order to obtain a complete combustion, it is necessary to have an extremely hot flame of considerable area so that'the material will be ignited and completely combusted as soonas it hits the air. For this purpose, we provide a fiat acetylene flame formed by two impinging jets and so arrange the nozzles of the jets that they lay outside the diameter of the exhaust pipe, thus insuring that the air blast will not extinguish the flame. In addition, we surround the jets and the top of the exhaust pipe by a collar, which prevents extraneous air currents from blowing the jet out of position over the top of the exhaust pipe and also stops any lateral spreading or spilling of the flame around the top of the pipe.

Another improvement embodied in our invention consists of a valve of the rotary type arranged to positively open and close a passage from the mixture container into an air blast passage. In conjunction with the valve, we provide an agitator in the mixture container which may be operated to agitate the mixture so that the valve will at all times permit a uniform charge to drop into the blast passage.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section partly in elevation, showing the arrangement of parts in our invention.

Figure 2 is a View taken on a line 2 -2of Figfor feeding a combustible mixture into a cham-- her .where the mixture ispicked upby an air stream and blown through a flame. The features of theinvention will now be described.

Referring 'to the drawing, and particularly to Figure 1, it will be. observed thatour invention consists of a container, generally designated said container being tapered and having at the lower end a valve generally designated 12. The container II is supported upon a :tripod generally designated |3, which in turn is mounted upon wheels or casters M. the rotary type and has a passage l5, which is adaptedto open and close the lower end of the container II upon proper operation of a handle I6. Connected to the output side of the valve I2 is a mixing chamber". Compressed air is supplied to the chamber through a conduit l8 from a source not shown and is controlled by means of a valve IS. The valve I9 is of the quick opening and closing type and is operated by a handle 20 to supply sudden surges of compressed air to the chamber ll. The opposite side of the chamber I1 is connected to a pipe 2|, which is turned into an upright position and extends above the container I and in practice is carried sufficiently above the height of individuals to insure that no burns may result from the flame. The means for igniting the combustible material as it is forced out the end of the pipe 2| comprises two jets 22 and 23, arranged to impinge and form a flat flame directly over the top of the pipe 2|. Suitable gas, such as acetylene, is supplied to the burners 22 and 23 from a source 24 through a pipe 25. A control valve 26 ordinarily is installed to control the flame. Surrounding the burners 22 and 23 and also surrounding the top of the pipe 2| is a collar 21 which is for the purpose of preventing extraneous air currents or wind from blowing the flame out of alignment with the pipe 2|. Also, the collar prevents lateral spreading of the flame at the top of the pipe, which might otherwise be caused by explosive combustion. With respect to the burners 22 and 23, it will be noted that the tips of the burners lay outside the diameter of the pipe, so that the air blast which forces the combustible material through the pipe will not extinguish the flame.

eArENT orrlcr.

The valve I2 is of through-the pipe 21.

j over the entranceto the pipe, 2|.

In the receptacle II, we provide means for agitating the mixture contained therein, to insure that there shall be no clogging of the outlet of the receptacle and that the valve 12 will at all times pass a substantially uniform amount of mixture. For this purpose we provide an agitator member 29, adapted to be moveably mounted within-the container H so'as toagitate the material in said container. The member 29 is connected to a small shaft 30 which extends above the cover of the container and the shaft 30 is provided with a pivotally mounted handle 3| which may be used to agitate the member 29:

In operating the device, a suitable mixture-, such as aluminum dust, is placed irrthe'container ll. Compressed air is brought to the device through the conduit I8, which may be either a flexible conduit or ordinary pipe. The devicev is. then moved into the location for use and the burners 22 and 23 are ignited and left burning after beingproperly adjustedl The operation of the device is simple and accurate, inasmuchas: it requires but: two operations, First, the. valve I9 is operated'iby the handle 20; which admits; a blast of airv into the chamber: l 1 andioutwardly Secondly,.the charge of aluminum: dust, or. any otherssuitable:material,, is admitted into the chamber H by: operating: the valve I2 through the handle l6. By prop:- erly' operating the handle. I 6,- a small -flare .or; a

'large flare may be obtained: as desired. Itxwill;

be noted that the chamber H 'is provided with a nozzle 32 on the-air inlet'side and on the-oppm site =side afunnel-shaped member 33 is mountedi As thecharge: is dropped from: thecontainer H, theair enter-- ing from the.=nozzle 32. picks up: the charge and: fOIOESIitJDtO the; member. 33 and outwardlyrand'l upwardlythrough the pipe 21. As soonaszthe mixture hits theiiame from.the. burners22 and.

23, it instantly ignites and, due to the pressure of air in the pipe 2 I, the flame is forced upwardly with a great brilliancy, depending of course on the type of material used. The flares may be colored, if desired, by placing a proper mixture into the container ll.

Specialprecaution againstiaccidental or premature explosions has been taken in the design and the arrangement of parts. In this respect, it will be noted that the container II is tightly closed-with a substantial cover. Also, it will be noted that the valve I5 is of the rotary type, which forms a positive closure to the material container and prevents any backfiring through the valve, when'closed, into the explosive material. In addition, the valve l9, being normally open during the time of combustion and being held open untilafter closure of the valve [2, it is obvious that there is no possibility of flame or molten masses of material dropping down the pipe 21 andlentering the mixture container I l.

Although: we? have? shown'. a specific embodiment of our invention, we=are aware'that modi-- ficationspandrefinements maybe made therein.

Accordingly; disclosure: is: intended to cover alli forms of: our; invention coming. within the scopezof: the; appended: claim.

In a; flare: machine of the character" described, .means:'for forcing: combustible material fromzthe'operr end of a zpipe, a burner arranged over; the. open end-:of' saidx pipeiforvigniting said material, said burner-comprising.azpair-of oppositely" disposed nozzles: arranged: to, impinge jets 1 aboveand below saidopen end;

LOUIS.-- JOHN WITTE. BENJAMIN HARRISON ,SOUTHLAND. 

